[Breaking News] Trump “Kim Jong-un to meet within the year…has 57 nuclear weapons”

President Donald Trump announced on November 19th that North Korea possesses 57 nuclear weapons and expressed willingness to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un "sometime this year." The statement also signaled an active stance in arranging a July North Korea-U.S. summit, excluding the goal of denuclearization. The media's curiosity was focused on whether the summit would occur without a commitment to denuclearization.

Trump affirmed that he would meet with Kim Jong-un during an interview with journalists. He was hesitant to comment on whether the aim of the summit would be denuclearization. Following the President's announcement, Trump made a surprise disclosure on his social media platform TrueSocial about reducing joint military exercises between South and North Korea.

Throughout the day prior, Trump had signaled his support for resuming talks between Kim Jong-un and himself. However, the claim of 57 nuclear weapons is interpreted as North Korea's confirmation and recognition of its nuclear arsenal, which is unusual. Prior to this, both U.S. and North Korean governments refrained from quantifying North Korea's nuclear stockpile.

North Korea's stance on North Korea's nuclear arsenal is often denied. Trump's statement may have been a response to North Korea's acknowledgment of its nuclear capabilities. The change in North Korea's strategy comes as the country strengthened its military and diplomatic relations with China, Russia, and Iran. The balance of power in favor of North Korea seems to have shifted further.